I don't know if it has ever been described by a phrase, so I'll call it the "something's happening behind his back" shot.  The first time I saw HOD, I was struck by Valerie Gaunt's off-screen stare, looking at Dracula before we (or Harker) first see him. 




Fisher uses it again (twice) in HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES.  First, to introduce a sinister-looking figure on a hilltop:



And next to introduce Stapleton watching the lovers tryst (and possibly giving his daughter some off-screen instructions how to seduce Sir Henry).




In BRIDES OF DRACULA, we are the person who sees the approaching menace (the vampiric Baroness coming down the stairs), while Peter Cushing remains unaware of the danger.



This is a cinematic device that Fisher used again and again, ALWAYS to fantastic effect.  I'm not aware of any pre-Fisher directors who ever introduced a menace in quite the same fashion.